"Allie" Is Back In The Swim Of Things Thanks To Keys' Turtle Hospital

ISLAMORADA (CBSMiami/FKNB) - A rehabilitated juvenile green sea turtle was released late Sunday afternoon above a coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

"Allie" was rescued May 20th by the crew from Keys Dives, an Islamorada-based dive charter operator. The turtle was covered in cauliflower-like Fibropapilloma tumors, including several that restricted the young reptile's vision. The tumors are believed to be caused by a herpes-like virus that affects sea turtles around the world.

The 40-pound turtle's treatment at the Keys-based Turtle Hospital included several tumor removal surgeries, one with a veterinary ophthalmologist. "Allie" was also treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, vitamins, fluids treatment and a diet of greens and seafood.

Key Dives' crew followed Allie's recovery and started a GoFundMe page to help with the conservation of sea turtles.

The Turtle Hospital opened its doors in 1986 and has rehabilitated and released more than 3,000 turtles.

(©2019 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Florida Keys News Bureau contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.